New Delhi, Jun 22: The Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, alleging a renewed strategy to weaken opposition parties through orchestrated political realignments, as tensions escalated following the latest setback to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, addressing the media, accused the ruling party of engineering what he described as a systematic attempt to destabilise opposition ranks. Referring to previous political strategies attributed to the BJP, including “Operation Lotus” and its broader “Congress mukt Bharat” campaign, Khera questioned the intent behind what he termed “political coercion and manipulation”.
He said the recent developments involving Eknath Shinde’s faction should be seen as part of a larger pattern, which he labelled “Operation Keechad”, arguing that such moves were aimed at weakening rival parties when electoral dominance falls short of expectations.
The remarks came after a significant political shift, with several Lok Sabha members from Shiv Sena (UBT) reportedly extending support to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp, which is aligned with the ruling NDA. The development marks another major setback for Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, which has already faced multiple splits in recent years following Shinde’s breakaway.
Khera intensified his criticism by questioning the ruling party’s political strategy and intent, alleging that opposition MPs were being lured away to alter the parliamentary balance. He also linked the situation to broader allegations of democratic erosion, claiming that such actions undermine constitutional principles.
The political controversy has also drawn parallels with similar realignments within the INDIA bloc, including recent developments involving the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, where a section of MPs reportedly extended support to the NDA after internal disagreements.
The latest episode adds to the ongoing political turbulence within opposition ranks, with analysts noting that repeated defections and factional splits are reshaping alliances ahead of future electoral battles.
Meanwhile, the BJP has not officially responded to the specific allegations made by Congress leaders in this context.